nd had not been so fortunate as we were, in getting
hold of a spar. Strange as it may seem, I scarcely for a moment
expected to lose my own life. In a cold climate I do not think I could
have held on as I did, but the sea was warm, and I did not feel in any
way benumbed.

The previous part of the night had appeared very long; this, however,
seemed far longer. I often felt very sleepy, but I was afraid, if I
gave way to sleep, that I should lose my hold, and resisted the
influence. Had I been alone, I felt that I should not have held on,
neither perhaps could Oliver Farwell, but we encouraged each other. We
did not say much, but not a minute during the whole night passed without
our exchanging a word or two.

At length I began to hope that the sea was going down: indeed, after a
little time it appeared evident that the water was calmer. It did not
break over our heads so frequently as at first. I thought with what joy
we should welcome the first streaks of day. At length, as we rose to
the top of a sea, we caught sight of the sun himself rising above the
horizon. The clouds had cleared away, the wind had almost completely
fallen. How gloriously the sun shot upwards in the clear blue sky.
Still the ocean rose and fell considerably. As we again reached the top
of a billow, I caught sight of an object at no great distance. At first
I thought it was a rock just above the water, but on looking again, I
saw it was a piece of wreck, and on it was seated a human being. I
looked again and again, and so did Oliver. We were certain that we
could not be mistaken. We shouted at the top of our voices. We saw the
person look round. Again we shouted. He stood up. He had not
discovered us. At length I managed to get my knees on the spar, and to
kneel and wave my hand above my head, shouting at the same time. He now
saw us, and waved his hand in return. At first I thought he was one of
the Lascars, but now I saw that it was Macco. The raft on which he
floated afforded far more security than did our spar, but how to reach
it was the question. In smooth water I might have pushed the spar
before me with the help of Oliver. Presently we saw Macco slip off the
raft and strike out towards us. He swam beautifully. I did not think a
human being could make such rapid way through the water. In a short
time we saw his dark-skinned face close to us.

"Ah! ah! Bery glad, Massa Walter. Bery glad to see you safe."

"Wha